A Look Into Africa

The Internet is rich with resources on the continent of Africa. One can learn about the area’s great traditions and cultures. Unfortunately, the continent also faces challenges to feed its people and to promote equality. This Webquest allows you, the student, to discover Africa’s rich history and current tasks to improve its situation.

Your instructor will have you begin by dividing the class into appropriate groups for the number of computers you have in the classroom. While the instructor introduces the topic, please go to the African Odyssey Interactive Web Site to have African music playing in the background. To make the project easier, please print out the Student Worksheet for the Activity.

A. Women in Developing Countries

1. The illiteracy rates for women in Africa are alarming. Find out how many countries in Africa that do not have more than half its women literate .

2. Also, women do not fare well in the job market. Many are forced to work on the farm or in low paying factory jobs. What are the percentages of women working in agriculture, industry, and the services sector in North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa?

3. Most women in America should expect to live into their seventies and beyond. In Africa, how many countries have a life expectancy at less than 50 years for women?

4. Women in America look at marriage as an occurrence once they get into their career and that it is a bond between two people for life. Further, many women believe strongly in their option for an abortion. On the other hand, it is far different in several parts of Africa. At this site scroll down to the statistics to determine these answers. (I) At Statistic #5, how many countries have the average age of women in their first marriage at less than 20 years old? (II) At #6, figure out how many countries in Africa have a percentage of married women living in polygamy at or above 20%? (III) And finally, at #12, how many countries permit abortions?

5. The United States has also enjoyed a much greater representation of women in its government. Find out if this is happening in Africa as well. At this site conclude if the situation is similar.

(I) At Statistic #1 & 2, how many heads of government & heads of state have been women in the 20th century?

(II) For #3, how many countries have more than 15% of their members of government as women?

(III) Also, at #4, how many countries have no women in their government?

6. Unfortunately, there are several challenges the Africans face. One is unsafe abortions. Looking at this site answer these questions:

(I) How many women die annually from unsafe abortions in Africa?

(II) Why do you think that this number is so high?

B. Culture, Tradition, and Art

1. Learn about Oba - a ruler of Nigeria

An Oba plays an important role in Nigerian society. Find out why Oba is special to this culture. At the Internet site click on the section for "Politics and Divine Kingship."

Answer these questions:

(I) Who is Oba?

(II) How does he derive his power?

(III) What country does the Oba currently live in?

(IV) Who used to control trade with all outsiders?

(V) What is the Oba responsible for today?

2. Two Ways to Count to Ten.

Storytellers have been important in Africa’s history. One reason for their significance is that many of the stories have a lesson behind them. Find out the important moral of this story? Please click on "Two ways to count to ten" located at the bottom left hand of the screen.

(I) Who won the contest to be the next king?

(II) What is the moral of this story?

3. The role of Nganga in some African cultures is very important. Read the to learn more about the role this individual has in society.

(I) Who would Nganga talk with for assistance?

(II) What does Nganga need to help with this conversation?

(III) When Nganga would reach a verdict, what would he do?

(IV) What did each party have to do once the disagreement was resolved?

4. African art is very beautiful. Much of the colorful work illustrates the continent’s long and storied history. Take this opportunity to view African Art: Aesthetics and Meaning. While at this site, describe a piece of work exhibited.

(I) What is it?

(II)Where does the art come from?

(III) What does it represent?

C. Country Profiles

1. United Nations CyberSchoolbus Site -
"InfoNation is an easy-to-use, two-step database that allows you to view and compare the most up-to-date statistical data for the Member States of the United Nations. In this first menu, you can select up to seven countries. Then, you can proceed to the data menu where you will be able to select statistics and other data fields." Click on 7 countries then click on "Data Menu." Select an item from each of the 4 data fields then click on "View Info." Once the table is produced print page 1 of this page. On the back of this "Infonation Table", state what you can conclude about the information from each category.

2. The National Geographic Africa Atlas has a wealth of information on African countries. Click on a country and answer these items: Country, Area, Population, Main Religion, Literacy Rate, Life Expectancy, Problems facing this Country, Form of Government , & Age of Country.

3. Africa News Online publishes articles on African topics that are related to the United States. Your task is to discuss an article from Africa News Online. Answer these items on the article:

(I) Title

(II) Date

(III) What is the article about?

(IV) Why is this important?

D. UN Global Trends -
This is a place where you can get a visual overview of what is happening around the world. Important regional and global information is presented in the form of charts and graphs, sometimes accompanied by insightful summaries.

6. The food supply in Africa is affected by the spreading desert.

(II) What is the cause of this problem?

7. Refugees are a problem in many areas of the world especially in Africa.

(I) Describe one African country that is facing this challenge listed on this map.

8. Global Watch produces several reports on food emergencies around the world. At this site click on the most recent report. Then click on the link for "Maps of Countries with Exceptional Food Emergencies". List two African countries that are having food emergencies and state why they are having this problem.

9. Global Watch also has reports on Foodcrops and Shortages. 1) Click on the most recent report; 2) Click on maps; 3) Click on Africa; & 4) Click on a region in Africa. Describe a country that is having shortages. State which country it is, what the problem is, and why they are having the problem.

10. The food outlook is grim for some countries in Africa. Once you go to the food outlook site click on most recent report. Now, click on section that resembles this title best: Food Supply Problems Continue to Grip Many Developing Countries. Discuss a problem from a region in Africa (Eastern, Western, Central, Southern, & Northern).

(I) List the country discussed,

(II) The problem they are facing, and

(III) Why they are facing that problem.

11. UNICEF has compiled list of the basic indicators of countries in Africa. Your task is to determine the gravity of the situation for children in a particular country. Once at the UNICEF Information Statistics site click on the region for Africa and then select a country to profile.

Answer these questions on the article:

(I) Equal rights to blacks was formally given by the then current president of South Africa. Who was he?

(II) Who represented the blacks?

(III) What political party does he oversee?

(IV) How many blacks live in South Africa?

(V) How many whites live in South Africa?

(VI) What was the biggest concession De Klerk had to make to finalize the deal?

(VII) What concession did Mandela have to make?

2. South Africa has been forced to integrate its schools much like the United States did back in the 1950s. Read this Washington Post article, South Africa Quietly Integrates Schools on this process.

(I) At most, white schools have integrated to what percentage with black students?

(II) Although integration may help the black cause, what troubles blacks more about education?

(III) Resources use to be distributed at a rate of $1 for every black student compared to $15 for every white student. Now, the difference has narrowed to $1 for every black student compared to $______ for every white student.

(IV) Surprisingly, what group has helped black students that have faced barriers in getting into previously white schools?

(I) Nelson Mandela has spoken of the "lost generation of black youth" in South Africa. What do you think he meant by this phrase?

(II) Assume several students enter your first-period class late three or four days a week. What might you do so late students are not missing instruction and others are not losing instructional time?

(III) What might be the consequences of your actions?

(IV) Children stand out when they are "different"--when they are late for school, when they speak too loud because that is what they do at home, when they speak a different language or have a noticeable accent. Why might students be both eager and reluctant to "fit in" to the culture of a new school?

4. South Africa is seen as a leader in southern Africa, yet they face several challenges. One of the greatest tasks is to overcome the devastation caused by apartheid. See how Nelson Mandela is trying achieve his goal of creating a peaceful, productive, and unified country. Decide for yourself if South Africa is truly Making Their Own Miracles.

(I) What prestigious award did Mandela receive?

(II) Have the first seven months been tremendously successful?

(III) On a positive note, many farmers are now able to do what?

(IV) Between 1960 and 1990, what did the government do to 3.5 million people?

(V) In the next five years, how much land may go back to its original owners?

(VI) This may effect how many people?

(VII) Unfortunately, the Pedi people experienced typical treatment when they were forced off their land and would receive compensation of just ______.

F. Civil Strife and Economics

1. Much of Africa is trying desperately to get out of the horrible economic position that plagues the continent. While reading Africa Moves Forward, take the opportunity determine if southern Africa is taking the appropriate steps.

(I) Is South Africa’s stock market stable or volatile?

(II) What are some of the problems with its economy?

(III) What is the S.A.D.C.?

(IV) It is made up of ______ countries with a combined population of ______ million.

(V) The strongest country in this group is ________________________.

(VI) People are happy in Namibia for they earn double the average in this group. Their per capita income is $ ___________.

(VII) Mauritius has done so well that an average citizen earns nearly $3,700 for the country has focused on two things: ____________________________________

(VIII) Although South Africa has done well, they are facing major challenges that include ___________________________________________.

2. Once independence came to the many colonies in Africa some fifty years ago, peace did not always accompany their existence. Many of these new countries had vicious infighting that would provoke deadly consequences between the many groups in a country. See how Zaire has attempted to achieve stability with this challenge and a refugee situation. Does the new president, Kabila, represent a fresh breed of leader?

(I) Whom did Kabila replace as ruler of Zaire?

(II) To gain power, Kabila used ___________.

(III) The U.S. and the West are hoping that this new ruler will promote the ideas of ______________ and treat ___________________ equally.

(IV) What country has stepped in to try promote a peaceful solution to the conflict?

(V) Over a million ___________ fled into Zaire from Rwanda in 1994 due to genocidal tribal warfare. They have been fighting the ___________.

(VI) These refugees are not well liked by Zaireans for they have received what from the West?

(VII) What did the Zaireans do recently to one of the refugee camps?

(VIII) The one leader who has been a pleasant surprise has been Museveni. He has brought peace and an improved economy to the country of _______________.

(IV) What was the one message that continually came through from President Clinton?

(V) Who did Clinton visit in South Africa?

(VI) Where did this visit take them?

(VII) How many listened to the President’s speech in Accra?

Rubric for Assessment on the Activities

You will have 3 class days to work on the project. Each day you will be assessed for how effectively you work. If you are on task for the entire class, then you will earn 5 points. If your are off task (misbehaving, goofing off, doing other work, not doing any work), then your actions will cause a deduction in points.

___/5 pts Day 1

___/5 pts Day 2

___/5 pts Day 3

Explanation of on task behavior rubric

4 ˝ - 5 pts Continually on task with no behavior problems.

4 - 4 ˝ pts Mainly on task with no behavior problems.

3 ˝ - 4 pts Partially on task with a reminder about behavior.

3 - 3 ˝ pts Sometimes on task with more than one reminder about behavior.

0 - 3 pts Seldom or never on task and is a behavior problem.

Final Product - Once you correctly complete this project, turn it in to your instructor. The completed worksheets can be worth up to 15 points.

Explanation of Final Product Rubric

13 ˝ - 15 pts. Strong work that has all questions answered in an educated manner. Only one or two mistakes.

12 - 13 ˝ pts. Strong work that has only one or two missing answers and very few incorrect answers.

10 ˝ - 12 pts. Average work that has a few missed answers & a few incorrect answers.

9 - 10 ˝ pts. Most of the project completed, but it has errors and missed answers.